Jeanneau Prestige 32

2003 £74,995

Today Prestige is a completely independent model line that, while owned by Jeanneau, is kept so separate that the company sends out two separate press invitations to the same press event. But it wasn’t always this way – a decade ago, Prestige was simply the designation for upmarket Jeanneaus, hence the Jeanneau Prestige 32 here.

INTERIOR

Almost a foot wider than the Sealine F34, the JP32 packs a galley as well as two decent double cabins into its lower accommodation, leaving the saloon free for socialising and entertaining (other than the helm forward to starboard). The interior feels grown up, assisted by lashings of high-gloss woodwork.

EXTERIOR

The big news outside is the flybridge. Big enough, in fact, for a dining table that will seat four, a sunlounger, and a pair of swivelling bucket seats. The cockpit is a decent size too, and gives access to asymmetrical side decks, meaning that the port walkway is a full 10in wide without over compromising interior volume.

PERFORMANCE

Another big-boat feature is shaftdrive, putting the engines further forward beneath the saloon floor rather than back beneath the cockpit, although access is slightly compromised as a result. Engine options on launch were twin Volvo Penta KAMD 43 or KAMD 300 (260 and 285hp) motors with the D4 series coming into play later in production. Where shaftdrive pays off is in the simple mechanics (a gearbox inside the boat behind the engine transmits power down a simple shaft to a propeller, separate rudders doing the steering) and close-quarters handling. With the propellers further forward, they exert more leverage at low speed when used separately. At high speeds, tunnelled props keep the shaft angle to a minimum, maximising forward thrust. Top speed is 30 knots with the big engines, but they’ll never be as efficient as sterndrives.